Page 29 of A Dragon's Miracle (Fires of Fate)

“Because I’ve been butchering all the songs.”

“Why? You’re great with the guitar.”

He shot me a surprised look, as if wondering how I wasn’t getting this. “I can’t play while I’m lovesick, and I can’t play while I’m worried about you.”

I blinked, wondering how to react to his words. He was so candid. I should have been used to it by now, but sometimes his level of honesty still took me by surprise. How could he just talk about being lovesick like that? “I’m sorry,” was all I could think to say.

He simply shook his head and cut into his steak. “I know you didn’t mean it. But…” He looked up again and his expression grew serious. “You have to promise me something.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t go back to him. You don’t have to be with me if you don’t want to. You don’t even have to stay on the island if you’d rather be somewhere else. Just…” He reached across the table to touch my cheek. “Don’t go back to the person who did this to you. You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”

You have no idea.

But I could tell by the look in Finn’s eyes that he meant every word he said. He couldn’t stand the idea of any more harm befalling me. “I won’t go back to him,” I promised. “There’s no chance of that happening, believe me.”

“I’m glad.” There was so much sincerity in Finn’s eyes I had to avert my gaze. He spoke on regardless. “You know, when we were in bed earlier you said you wanted to be mine. Were you just saying that, or did you mean that? I know that people say crazy stuff when they’re horny so I gotta ask.”

I licked my lips. What to say? This was my chance to defuse the situation, but the words that came out of my mouth didn’t do that. “I meant it,” I heard myself say, because I couldn’t bring myself to break Finn’s heart again.

“Really?” Finn rewarded me with a smile so bright he could have lit up the darkest room.

“Really.” I smiled back at him because I loved seeing him this happy.

I had no idea how I was ever going to tell him about my cancer.